William Bright (1824–1901) was an English ecclesiastical historian and Anglican priest.
He was sent first to a preparatory school at Southwell, and thence, in 1837, to Rugby, he there reached the sixth form at the time of Dr. Thomas Arnold's death.
He gained a scholarship at University College, Oxford, he matriculated on 20 March 1843 ; obtained first-class honours in classics in 1846 ; was awarded the Johnson theological scholarship in 1847, and the Ellerton theological essay in 1848, the subject being 'The Prophetic Office under the Mosaic Dispensation.'
[1] He was elected fellow of University College in 1847, he retained his fellowship till 1868.
In 1868, he was appointed Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford, and canon of Christ Church in succession to Arthur Penrhyn Stanley.